Searching for victory, Aggies host tough Spartans

LAS CRUCES - Will the New Mexico State Aggies spring a win or two down the stretch of their 2012 football season? Perhaps.

With that, this weekend's home game against San Jose State will provide a tough order.

The Spartans have turned themselves into a solid football team. They hold a 7-2 overall record, 3-1 in Western Athletic Conference play (with their one loss coming to 4-0 Utah State). The Aggies 1-8 record speaks for itself, as does San Jose State entering Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game as 20.5-point favorites.

"They're solid, not flashy. They're just a solid team," NMSU head coach DeWayne Walker said. "They can put up points if you don't defend. Defensively .... They're blue-collar, hard-nosed. They just line up and play football."

Part of that philosophy is intertwined with a big-play offense. Junior college transfer quarterback David Fales has provided an answer for a team that throws often (232-of-319 pass attempts, 2,850 yards and 21 touchdowns to six interceptions).

The Spartans rank second in the conference in points per game (33.8) and passing yards per contest (328.6).

"The quarterback is efficient, their tight end is going to play in the NFL," Walker stated.

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"As a whole, from a receiving standpoint, they make plays."

Clearly in order to pull off such an upset, NMSU has to produce offensively. Since beating Sacramento State Week 1 of the season 49-19, the Aggies have averaged 14 points per game in eight-straight losses. They haven't scored a first-half touchdown for three games (the last one came in an Oct. 6 loss at Idaho).

"It'll pick our momentum up," wide receiver Austin Franklin said of getting some early scores. "Help us in the long run instead of just scoring in the fourth quarter, trying to make this comeback."

The Spartans aren't a heavy blitz team, although that doesn't stop them from getting after the quarterback. Their 32 sacks in nine games rank fourth in the nation, while defensive end Travis Johnson's 11 sacks also rank fourth in the country. The Spartans have also gotten 6.5 from Travis Raciti, 4.5 from Anthony Larceval, 3.5 from David Tuitupou and three from Vince Buhagiar.

"Old school," was how Walker described SJSU's defensive approach. "They're going to line up: 'This is what we're going to be. Beat us.'"

On paper it doesn't look like a good matchup for the Aggies, who've surrendered a WAC-high 29 sacks on the season.

Getting the quarterback - whether that be Andrew Manley or Travaughn Colwell - on the move could help, as would throwing effectively in the short-to-intermediate passing zones. Such areas of the field have been open to the Aggies most of the season and likely will be once again - San Jose State plays predominantly an umbrella coverage in the secondary in hopes of taking away the deep pass.

NMSU did discover tight end Trevor Walls last week, as the senior caught six passes for 39 yards in a 42-7 loss at Auburn.

"They play cover four a lot," quarterback Andrew Manley said of San Jose State's defensive secondary. "Cover four's supposed to take away the deep ball. Everyone's dropping. (Throwing underneath is) what we're going to try and do."

It's been a shockingly-disappointing season for the Aggies, who close at home against San Jose State, at home against Brigham Young (Nov. 24) and on the road at Texas State (Dec. 1).

"These kids, they continue to work hard and they continue to try to get better every week," Walker said. "I'm not disappointed at this team, I'm disappointed for this team. We'll continue to fight, work hard and hopefully steal a couple before the season ends."

Teddy Feinberg can be reached at (575) 541-5455. Follow him on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

If you go

Who: San Jose State at New Mexico State

What: College football game, Week 11

Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Spread: Aggies +20.5

Weather: Partly cloudy, temperatures in the mid-60s. Winds up to 20 MPH